Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality-Chapter 204 - 185: Buddha in the Heart

「Two months later.」

Xiao Mo arrived in a town.

This town was located not far from Kongnian Temple and was called Kongnian City.

As the name suggested, it was a town affiliated with Kongnian Temple.

The moment he entered Kongnian City, Xiao Mo wondered if he had stepped into another world.

Walking the streets of Kongnian City, he could see a Buddha statue displayed in every household, whether it was a wine stall or a butcher shop.

The faint scent of incense mingled with the city’s breeze.

Everyone seemed exceptionally peaceful.

In the other cities Xiao Mo had visited, he could always feel a sense of guardedness between people, to a greater or lesser extent.

He would even occasionally see thieves stealing things, or neighbors cursing and fighting...

In short, the atmosphere was heavy with hostility. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

But in this city, everyone was harmonious and cheerful.

However, what surprised Xiao Mo was that a city affiliated with Kongnian Temple actually had brothels!

The women from these brothels solicited customers on the roadside, and when they saw Monks from Kongnian Temple pass by, they would even try to pull them over.

But from what Xiao Mo could see, not a single Monk went inside.

The Monks would just smile and quickly move away.

"Sir, isn’t Kongnian City affiliated with Kongnian Temple? I can understand having wine and meat, but how can they allow brothels in the city?"

Xiao Mo sat down with Jiang Xin at a tea stall and asked the owner.

"Hahaha..."

The tea stall owner said with a laugh.

"You must be from out of town, young man. This town used to be called Dengying City, and it wasn’t part of Kongnian Temple.

Later, due to certain events, a high-ranking Monk from Kongnian Temple saved the old City Lord of Dengying City. So, the city voluntarily pledged its allegiance to Kongnian Temple and changed its name to Kongnian City.

Although Kongnian Temple has the right to govern Kongnian City in name, in reality, the temple doesn’t interfere in the city’s affairs at all.

We, the people of Kongnian City, just live our lives as we always have. Kongnian Temple has never forced us to convert to Buddhism.

As for the Buddha statues you see in every household, the townspeople acquired those voluntarily.

That’s because the Monks from Kongnian Temple often come down the mountain to help us subdue Demons.

They perform rites for weddings and funerals, and they even treat illnesses.

Over time, everyone naturally started keeping Buddha statues in their homes."

"I see." Xiao Mo nodded. "It seems Kongnian Temple has a very good reputation."

"It’s as good as it gets." The tea stall owner smiled. "They even help us cultivate farmland and build irrigation systems."

Xiao Mo nodded, took a sip of tea, and said nothing, merely glancing at Jiang Xin.

Jiang Xin understood his meaning. She nodded, indicating that the man was telling the truth.

After leaving the tea stall, Xiao Mo asked several other residents of Kongnian City.

Everyone had a good impression of the Monks from Kongnian Temple.

The people of Kongnian City all felt that Kongnian Temple was wonderful. They considered themselves fortunate to live here under its protection.

And the Blood Demon had also said that Kongnian Temple was a good place.

With both sources confirming it, Xiao Mo felt much more at ease about Kongnian Temple.

After paying for the tea, Xiao Mo led Jiang Xin toward Kongnian Mountain, where Kongnian Temple was located.

Along the way, Xiao Mo encountered many people heading to Kongnian Temple to worship.

In less than an hour, the two of them arrived at the foot of the mountain.

Xiao Mo looked up and saw the mountaintop suffused with a dense Buddha’s Rhyme, dotted with auspicious clouds.

If it wasn’t an illusion, it could only mean that there were indeed many enlightened high-ranking Monks on the mountain.

"Let’s go, Ah Xin. We’re heading up the mountain," Xiao Mo said.

"Mhm."

Jiang Xin nodded and happily followed Xiao Mo up the mountain.

...

「In a courtyard in Kongnian Temple.」

Abbot Xujing was sitting before a Buddha statue, chanting scriptures while striking a Wooden Fish.

As he chanted, Xujing seemed to sense something and slowly opened his eyes.

He manipulated the Buddhist Beads in his hand as if performing some kind of divination.

Finally, Xujing stood up, left the courtyard, and walked toward the front hall of Kongnian Temple—the place where worshipers prayed.

"Abbot."

"Abbot."

"Greetings, Master Xujing."

Seeing the Abbot arrive, the Monks of Kongnian Temple and the worshipers all pressed their palms together in salute.

Xujing nodded to everyone and continued toward the main gate of Kongnian Temple.

"Abbot Uncle, what brings you to the front hall?"

A Monk named Wu Guang stepped forward and asked curiously.

Xujing stroked his beard and said with a smile, "An honored guest is arriving today. Naturally, this old monk must go and receive them. We cannot be neglectful."

"An honored guest?" Wu Guang was taken aback. ’Which high-ranking Monk could it be?’ he wondered.

After all, anyone the Abbot Uncle would personally greet must be of high status.

"Would you like to accompany me to receive them?" Xujing asked Wu Guang.

"Yes, Abbot Uncle."

Wu Guang pressed his palms together in a salute and followed behind the Abbot.

The two of them arrived at the entrance of the main hall and gazed at the mountain steps in the distance.

After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, a young boy who looked to be fourteen or fifteen, but whose bone age was clearly only eleven, slowly approached with a little girl.

Wu Guang’s brow furrowed.

This young boy was radiating so much Evil Qi that even he felt uncomfortable.

Before Wu Guang could process this, the Abbot Uncle stepped forward, pressed his palms together, and said, "I am Xujing, Abbot of Kongnian Temple. Greetings to you two benefactors."

Xiao Mo looked at the benevolent-looking old Monk in surprise and returned the salute. "Abbot, did you know we were coming?"

"Heh heh." Xujing smiled. "This old monk is somewhat skilled in the art of divination. While I was chanting scriptures today, I sensed something and performed a small divination, learning that honored guests would be arriving."

"Then, Master, you should know the purpose of my visit?"

"I believe so," Xujing nodded.

"In that case, I won’t beat around the bush, Master. Master Xujing, I wonder if you would be willing to accept Ah Xin as your disciple?" Xiao Mo asked directly.

Hearing Xiao Mo’s words, a flash of surprise crossed Wu Guang’s face.

’What is this boy saying?’

’Never mind whether he knows that Abbot Uncle has never taken a disciple before.’

’In this world, there has never been a precedent for a woman to cultivate Buddhism.’

Wu Guang looked at his Abbot Uncle, only to see him turn his head and smile at the little girl beside Xiao Mo.

Jiang Xin also looked directly into Xujing’s eyes.

The little girl, who was usually shy around strangers, actually showed a hint of curiosity as she looked at the Abbot of Kongnian Temple.

"The same stone.

To some, it is just a stone.

But to others, it looks like a lion.

To some, it looks like a drunken woman, lying down.

And still others see it as a crocodile by the river."

Xujing looked at Jiang Xin with a kindly expression.

"Little girl, you can read the hearts of all people. So, what do you see in my heart?"

Jiang Xin tilted her little head slightly and said slowly, "I see a Buddha in your heart, Grandfather."

"Hahaha."

Xujing pressed his palms together and said with a laugh.

"Good."